A spill of fire retardant has occurred on the northbound lanes of Route 11 between Jacquet River and Charlo, as confirmed by the provincial government. In an update shared on Facebook on Thursday around noon, the province reassured the public that the spill poses no danger to humans or the environment. The spill, which amounts to between 50 and 100 litres of fire retardant spread over multiple kilometers, has since dried up, according to the latest report.
Authorities have advised the public to be cautious of any staff present at the spill site. The incident is attributed to a contractor working on behalf of the Department of Natural Resources and was initially reported by the province on Wednesday at 8 p.m. Fire retardant, containing ammonium polyphosphate as its primary component, is commonly utilized to impede the progression of fires and shares similarities with a fertilizer in its composition.
The spill has resulted in the presence of a vividly colored solution in the area, as indicated by the provincial announcement.